Knife and fork.



No. 708,806. v Patented Sept..9, |902. G. GARDA.

KNIFE AND FORK.

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No. 708,806. Patented Spt. 9, |902. GARDA.

KNIFE AND FORK.'

(Application Bled June 18, 1902.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GIOVANNI GARDA, OF TURIN, ITALY.

KNIFE AND FGRK.

SPECIFICATION forming paw of Letters Patent No. 708,806, dated September 9, 1902. Application filed June 13,1902. Serial No. 111.488. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, GIOVANNI GARDA, a subjectof the King of Italy, residing at Turin, Italy, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knives and Forks', of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the class of coinbined knives and forks suitable for soldiers7 sailors, and campers use and which fold up. compactly for packing or carrying.

The object is to provide such a knife and fork wherein the knife has a plurality of spaced blades adapted for use at one time, so as to cut viands into small bits or pieces or independently. Means are provided for locking the blades either open or closed. The fork folds at the middle and has means for locking it at the folding-joint when open for use, and means are provided for locking or securing it to the knife.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a side view of the combined knife and fork, showing the parts folded; and Fig. 2 is a front or face View. Fig. 3 is a face View of the knife ready to open, the fork having been removed and the locking-bands thrown open. Fig. 4 is an end view ofthe knife in substantially the condition seenin Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sideA view, and Fig. 6a front View, of the knife, showing the blades locked open. Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively a side and face view of the fork open for use, and Fig. 9 is a sectional View of the locking-slide of the fork. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the knife, sh ow ing the several blades partly open and atdifferent angles. Fig. 11 is a perspective View of the knife-handle, from which the blades have been removed. Fig. l2 is an illustrative view showing the spacing of the blades of the knife and tines of the forks so that they interlap in use.

1 designates the hollow handle of the knife, in whichare hinged in themanner of a pocketknife the severalblades 2. The hinging ends of the blades are relatively thick, so as to leave spaces between the blades for slicing when several of the blades are used simultaneously for cutting. In order that the blades may be removed from the handle, the pin 3, about which they turn, is fixed only at one end in one of the cheeks or side plates 'of the handle, there being a space at the free end of the said pin for the removal of the blades. Normally this space is closed by a hinged plate 4, Fig. 10, which may be turned into said space to fill it and to press the blades close together. The front and rear edges of the hinging-butts of the blade are flat and come flush with the front of the handle when the blades are open and closed, respectively. Under these conditions the blades are held locked against turning about the pin 3 by a locking-band 5, hinged to the handle at 6 and adapted to be folded across the square edges of the hinging ends of the blades to lock them closed, as in Fig. 2, or open, as in Fig. 6. At the free end of locking-band 5 is a loop or hook 6 to receive a bolt 7, mounted to play in a keeper 8 on the side of the handle.

The fork, which is seenv detached from the handle 1 in Figs. 7 and 8 and unfolded for ilse and in Figs. l and 2 secured to the handle and folded, comprises two parts hinged or pivotally connected at 9. It consists of the bifur-v cated portion 10 and the handle portion 10-. When folded as in Figs. l and 2, the handle portion l0a lies next the knife-handle and the tines of the fork enter a pocket 1l in the outer end of the handle, which houses them at this end. At the other' end (the upper end in Figs. 1 and 2) there is a tenon 12 on the handle portion 10@ of the fork, and this is embraced (see Figs. 1to 4) by a locking-band 13, similar to the band 5, which is hinged to the handle and has at its free end a loop or hook 14, adapted to be engaged by the bolt 7 for holding the band in place and securing the'folded spoon to the handle 1. The tines of the'fork 10 are so spacedas to engage between the spaced blades 2. When unfolded, as in Figs. 7 and 8, the joint in the fork at 9 is locked by a slide 15. (Seen in crosssection in Fig. 9.) The blade at one side or margin of the group or gang may be wider than the others, as seen at 16 in Figs. 5 and 10, to serve as a bearing and guide for the fork in use.

Obviously the knife and fork described is Well adapted for general use in families and may of course be used by any one for all the uses to which a knife andfork can be applied.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In an implement for the purpose specied, the combination with the hollow handle, of a plurality of blades pivoted therein on a pivotal axis in common, the hinged lockingband adapted to fold transversely across the blades near their hinging-points, and means for securing said band in its locking position.

2. In an implement for the purpose specified, the combination with the knife, provided with a pocket 11 in its handle to receive the tines of the fork, a locking-band 13 toengage a tenon on the fork, and means for securing said band, of the folding fork, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination With the knife, having folding blades and means for locking them when closed, of the fork, comprising the bifureated portion and the handle portion, hinged together for folding, and a locking-slide 15 on GIOVANNI GARDA.

Witnesses:

SEoDo CORTA, CLEMENTE GIAETZETTL 

